By Kayla Good,
Navy Office of Community Outreach
NORFOLK, Va. – A 2008 Martin County High School
graduate and Stuart, Florida native is serving in the U.S.
Navy with Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 126.
Lt.j.g. Matt Conlon works with the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Squadron, VAW
126, also known as “Seahawks”, operating out of Norfolk, Virginia.
He
is a pilot and the morale, welfare and recreation officer which is responsible
for providing opportunities for sailors to boost morale with activities such as
picnics, food sales and team building.
“Flying is great but I like coming to work everyday and
seeing all the motivated people,” said Conlon. “Seeing the maintenance
personnel get our planes safe in addition to the amount of effort each sailor
puts in that work really shows how they care about the job.”
The primary mission of VAW-126 is to provide mission-ready
and combat-ready E-2D aircraft and capable aircrew wherever needed, on time,
and safely.
As the newest variant of the E-2 aircraft platform, the E-2D
Advanced Hawkeye serves as the most advanced command and control aircraft in
the Navy and features a state-of the-art radar with more capabilities and
upgraded aircraft systems that improves
the combat effectiveness of a carrier air wing and carrier strike
group..
In addition to airborne early warning mission, the E-2D
provides a variety of capabilities to the carrier strike group, including
search and rescue operations, data link, communications relay, strike control,
close air support coordination, and drug interdiction.
”The sailors of VAW-126 are
integral to the successful employment of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye,” said Cmdr.
Scott Wastak, Commanding Officer VAW-126. “Without their meticulous attention
to detail and dedication to the mission, the Hawkeye would be unable to perform
its mission and meet our nation’s call to duty.
Our sailors are truly our most valuable asset!”
With a crew of nearly 150 sailors, jobs
are highly specialized and designed to keep each part of the Hawkeye running
smoothly. Whether training new aviators,
maintaining airframes and engines, processing paperwork, or handling and flying
the aircraft, the key to success is teamwork.
“We have a great front office at this command,” said
Conlon. “The skipper and executive officer allow the junior officers to have a
lot of leadership decisions. They give a lot of autonomy to their sailors and
junior leaders. They give you enough room to make mistakes and learn.”
“By
serving in the Navy, I feel like I am doing my
part to continue the traditions and the luxuries that we enjoy in this
country,” added Conlon. “I feel like it's very fulfilling to be able to know
that you are playing a direct role in maintaining what we enjoy as Americans.”
The Seahawks of VAW-126 are assigned to Carrier Air Wing
ONE.